Etymologies

Probably of Scandinavian origin.

(American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Uncertain. Compare Welsh brysg and French brusque. (Wiktionary)

Examples

In an effort to end what it describes as a brisk black market in Puerto Rican birth certificates, which confer U.S. citizenship, the Puerto Rican government decided in December to invalidate all existing birth certificates.

John Hagan, managing director and co-head of the defense and government services unit of BB&T Capital Markets/Windsor Group, said he expects the pace of mergers and acquisitions to remain brisk through the end of the year.

Now I comprehended the reason, when I heard the travellers beside me call the brisk breeze, which only occasioned what seamen call a little swell, a dreadful storm; and they will probably tell at home of the dangers they have passed.